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Analysis of Pitting Susceptibility of Low Carbon Steels for the Refinement of Salt Dissolution Inhibitor Requirements

At Savannah River Site (SRS), High-Level Waste is stored in below-grade tanks constructed of carbon steel. This waste is composed of sludge, salt cake, and/or supernate. In part, preparation of this waste for future processing involves dissolution of the salt cake layer.

Product Number: 51323-19293-SG
Author: Joshua T. Boerstler, Bruce J. Wiersma, Keisha B. Martin, Andrea N. Bridges
Publication Date: 2023
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Corrosion control limits for High-Level Waste storage are being revisited to determine if a ratio of inhibiting and aggressive species, the Pitting Factor, is applicable to predicting localized corrosion in waste tank chemistries. An experimental matrix was designed to evaluate the use of the pitting factor for supernate chemistries, particularly during the salt dissolution process. Two electrochemical methods were identified to determine the susceptibility of A537 and A285 low-carbon steels to pitting corrosion within this chemistry envelope at temperatures up to 75 °C. The predominant electrochemical test method was Cyclic Potentiodynamic Polarization (CPP) studies. Where CPP was inconclusive, Modified ASTM G192 was successfully used to evaluate pitting susceptibility conditions and allowed for a pass/fail result to be determined. In all cases, the pitting factor was determined to be applicable to the simulants tested, with this metric accurately predicting incidences in which pitting occurred.

Corrosion control limits for High-Level Waste storage are being revisited to determine if a ratio of inhibiting and aggressive species, the Pitting Factor, is applicable to predicting localized corrosion in waste tank chemistries. An experimental matrix was designed to evaluate the use of the pitting factor for supernate chemistries, particularly during the salt dissolution process. Two electrochemical methods were identified to determine the susceptibility of A537 and A285 low-carbon steels to pitting corrosion within this chemistry envelope at temperatures up to 75 °C. The predominant electrochemical test method was Cyclic Potentiodynamic Polarization (CPP) studies. Where CPP was inconclusive, Modified ASTM G192 was successfully used to evaluate pitting susceptibility conditions and allowed for a pass/fail result to be determined. In all cases, the pitting factor was determined to be applicable to the simulants tested, with this metric accurately predicting incidences in which pitting occurred.